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You could wonder whether the Australian cricket board intentionally chooses to be unclear about player availability or simply has a deficiency in public relations, but once again, the health status of athletes and final team composition must be deduced from the 14-player squad announcement for the second Ashes Test.

Normally, an unchanged squad would not be much news, but on this occasion it is, due to the possible movement involving both key players, neither of which has now eventuated.

Cummins is the surprise for his omission, with the regular captain and pace spearhead progressing in rehabilitation from early signs of a stress fracture. The sole official statement was a brief mention with the squad release stating that “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to continue his preparations.”

Insider reports indicate that everything is on track and his healing is proceeding well, with a probable return to the side soon. In theory, Cummins could even join the Test squad in coming days if he and management so choose. But still, the explanations seem inconsistent.

Recalling when his medical tests came back positive in last month, initiating the countdown on his buildup to match fitness, all public commentary from the player and board schedules suggested he would only narrowly miss the initial match and was set to practice at close to full intensity with the team during the match. The head coach remarked, “He will be up and bowling in Perth, and fans will wonder why he’s not playing.”

Once Cummins got back to his home city following the team’s raucous two-day win, he was observed practicing in the New South Wales nets without any apparent limitations and, importantly, was training with a pink ball, presumably as readiness for the Brisbane day-night game.

What prompted the shift, more than four weeks since he indicated requiring a month to prepare bowling loads, and with less than a week to go in the Gabba? Additionally, there are over a week’s break between matches. Should he target Adelaide, it will be more than seven weeks since he resumed bowling.

That in itself is fine: prognoses can change, medical staff can be conservative, athletes might take care. What’s strange is that during the most anticipated and closely followed Ashes contest in Australia’s calendar, the board officials don’t appear to consider it reasonable to share any information about the captain’s fitness and availability or the evolving status of either.

If care is the priority with the captain, the reverse is true with the opener’s issue. He had spasms flare up in the first Test during brief periods on the field, keeping Australia’s usual opener from doing so in both innings and from having any influence when he did bat down the order. Even if his symptoms have subsided, the newness of the problem creates concern that they could return in the heat of the next Test.

With Khawaja in the squad suggests he is set to return to the top order, even though his replacement scored a historic hundred in his place. Khawaja wouldn’t be picked as a backup or to play lower. Once more, there is no confirmation about this, just the selection.

It isn’t necessary that teams should have to give a whole XI when picking their squad, and strategies may shift. But some plans are firmer than others, and given the way Travis Head’s explosive performance captured public attention, it would do no harm to confirm where both batsmen are slotted to play. Some uncertainty in life is a good thing, but creating it out of the broadly obvious is needless. For those aiming of winning over audiences, communication goes a long way.